Student Sustainability Coalition (SSC)
The Coalition is the centralized space where student leaders and sustainability organizations coordinate. It is a or students to communicate about and collaborate on projects pertaining to sustainability. It is the group that elevates the student voice across separate initiatives. The School of Earth & Sustainability is supporting the SSC again this year with the goal of monthly, student-led engagement. Student-run organizations (RSOs), representatives from SES programs, and other student leaders contribute to SSC. It is re-forming now, which is the useful time to walk in, because what it becomes this year is still being decided.
Student government
The Student Government Association holds a sustainability role that chairs the Coalition and serves as the main liaison between students, faculty, and administration on sustainability matters. The role has been restructured for this year and the appointment is pending. Watch SGA for the announcement.
A seat on the pan-campus advisory council
The School’s pan-campus advisory council brings together departments, colleges, campus operations, and students to set direction for the network. Student representation includes up to four seats, working with student leaders and the Student Sustainability Coalition. Students interested in a seat should raise it there.
Join an organization
UMass has more than ten student sustainability organizations, including UMass Amherst Permaculture, the Food Recovery Network, MASSPIRG, the Beekeeping Club, UMass HydroFarm, Students for Sustainable Fashion and Art, the Cycling and Sustainability Club, the Sunrise Movement of UMass Amherst, and the UMass Outing Club. Every registered student organization on campus, sustainability-related or not, is searchable in the Campus Pulse directory.
The easiest single afternoon to meet several of them at once is Friday, October 9, when sustainability clubs join the UMass Farmers Market on the Student Union South Lawn, 12:00 to 4:00 pm. Organizations interested in connecting formally with the School of Earth & Sustainability are invited to reach out. Learn more about student sustainability clubs at a special event on October 9, 12:00 to 4:00 as part of the weekly Farmers Market.
Get trained
Climate Literacy Program
The Climate Literacy Program workshop series runs three consecutive Wednesdays, October 14, 21 and 28, 5:30 to 8:30 pm, in person, plus about one hour of asynchronous coursework, for ten hours of programming in total. It is built for student leaders and engaged students who want to be able to talk about climate change, impacts, and solutions with a room that is not already convinced. Space is limited, participants are selected, and full attendance is required. The interest form is open now and the location goes to confirmed participants before the first session. For upcoming student training opportunities.
Sustainability learning outcomes
The School recognizes seven sustainability learning outcomes that describe what a graduate of this network should be able to do. They are worth reading once before you choose courses, because they are the language your training here maps onto when you describe it to an employer. Explore our sustainability learning outcomes here.
Get funded
Student Sustainability Innovation Fund
The Fund pays students to build sustainable solutions at UMass, using the campus as a living laboratory. Awards run in three tiers from $2,000 to $7,500, varying by team. Projects fall under: Climate Action, Energy, and Transit; Regenerative Food and Land Systems; Circular Economy and Zero Waste; and Arts and Community Engagement. This year, SSIF supports six projects, engaging fourteen students. Learn about our SSIF teams.
The next call opens in the spring. In practice that means the thing you have been complaining about can become the thing you get funded to fix, and the shaping of that idea starts now.
Do the work
SES Sustainability Experiences Hub
Every semester and every summer, SES places students into field, farm, lab, and professional experiences with more than seventy living lab partners across campus and the region. Each placement is set up with a short learning contract signed by the student and the supervisor in the first two weeks, so scope, learning objectives, and the work rhythm are agreed up front.
The fall application window has closed and placements are being finalized. Watch the hub for new opportunities and the spring call.